Well if you look at the data at Ancestry I'm sure there is a date you can not get earlier than. And I don't believe it was compulsory to register in the earlier years.
many many thanks for both replies. Much appreciated.
Hubbie wants to trace a certain Grandad and thinks he wont be able to trace him.
He I believe is now after a birth and Death cert. x
or even better, if yu can get to the register office that is holding the registers for the named district today, pop in and get it locally then and there
Also plenty of us have access to ancestry and other sites so if you want the details of this personlooking up so you have the full details to give to the registry office, just ask.